Legislation – Houstonius

Starting January 1, 2026, real estate brokers in Texas are legally mandated to secure a written agreement before showing a residential property to a potential buyer. This regulation, established by the Texas Occupations Code, ensures that the relationship between the agent and the client is clearly defined prior to any tours. Depending on whether the broker is representing the individual or simply...

What are the key changes in the HUD memorandum? According to the provided sources, the HUD memorandum issued on May 22 introduces several shifts in how assistance animal accommodation requests are handled, even though the core legal framework remains the same. The key changes highlighted in the memorandum include: HUD Enforcement Interpretation: There is a change in how HUD interprets the enforcem...

Must a prospective apartment tenant be treated differently if that prospective tenant has an emotional support animal Yes, under both federal and Texas fair housing laws, a prospective tenant with an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) must be treated differently than a standard pet owner. In the eyes of the law, an ESA is not a pet; it is considered an "assistance animal" (a medical tool), similar to...

Lester Langdon here.  In the past, several of my clients have had problems with squatters.  Here is a recent article from the Fort Worth Star Telegram, written by Tiffani Jackson Here’s what Texas’ new squatter laws mean for landlords, tenants and homeowners It’s a nightmare scenario for homeowners — discovering that someone has taken up residence in your property without permission, and finding o...